I was thinking that I'd enjoy having a fish in my office. I don't know much about fish and only had gold fish growing up.

Do fish need to be fed every day? If I leave late on Friday and return early on a Monday, will my fish survive the weekend?

Also, I was thinking about a Beta fish and putting it in a regular size fish bowl. I hear they like smaller spaces -- is this true?

Can anyone recommend a fish that would work well in a bowl in my office. Would I need a light on the bowl at night?

Perhaps I should get a plant? Hmmm.... suggestions please?
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11-18-03, 01:16 AM
mattlynda
you can get little tablets that last up to 5 days for your fish, so you dont have to worry about them over the weekend.
any fish you get has to have a filter, but they can come really small to fit a bowl.

if you get a beta, DO NOT get a plastic plant, or anything else they can get their fins tangled in.
they breathe air, and if they cant get to the surface to breathe, they drown.

also, get 2 fish. i dont know if they notice or not, but a companion couldnt hurt.

goldfish, betas, neons would all be ok in a small office tank or bowl.
talk to the people in a pet store, they can reccomend more, with specific instructions.

11-18-03, 10:49 PM
Oceangurl
Thank you, I will go to Pet Smart this week and talk to someone in their fish department. I didn't know about the food tablets, that's a great idea.

11-21-03, 08:01 PM
Tree
Oceangurl,

While people keep bettas in little bowls merely because they CAN - they would LOVE a bigger place to live in. I think it's cruel to keep them confined in some of the places I've seen them kept! Sure, even a human can exist in a tiny room, but hmmmm....

Wink

11-21-03, 10:30 PM
Oceangurl
I agree Tree. I've seen them in tiny little bowls. After more thought, I was thinking of a VERY large bowl, like a giant oversized flower vase. Do you think this would be acceptable, or should I change my plans? I don't want to be a fish-abuser! Frown

11-22-03, 12:11 AM
Chickenlady

quote:Originally posted by Tree:
Oceangurl,

While people keep bettas in little bowls merely because they CAN - they would LOVE a bigger place to live in. I think it's cruel to keep them confined in some of the places I've seen them kept! Sure, even a human can exist in a tiny room, but hmmmm....

Wink

I TOTALLY agree about it being cruel that bettas are kept in such small confinement. Breaks my heart when I got to Wal Mart and see all those cups. I had one for 4 years, lived in a 2 gallon tank, with a filter, he was very happy. SmileI have had some raised with gold fish, too.

11-23-03, 07:23 PM
Oceangurl
I went to Pet Smart this weekend and have purchased a Betta Fish. They do not sell Betta Fish pellets to feed him over the weekend. The Pet Smart Fish employee told me that I could feed him on Friday night and again on Monday morning and he'd be fine.

The directions on the daily fish food said to feed the fish daily.

I'm thinking I should bring him home with me on Friday nights and keep him in a bowl at home on the weekend and bring him back to the office during the week. I would maintain two large fish bowls for him (one home/one work).

My husband thinks I'm a nut and that I should leave the fish in the office and that he'll be fine being fed late Friday and early Monday like the store employee suggested.

How do you fish experts think I should handle the care of my Betta fish on the weekend?

11-23-03, 08:57 PM
Katanya2000
I don't think moving him around like that is a good idea. It will undoubtably create stress on him. I think that it would be better to not feed him over the weekend rather than try to move him. Stress on fish can be fatal!

I'm not sure, but I think it possible that changing his living environment from bowl to bowl could also be harmful, but I'm not positive.

12-05-03, 09:31 PM
Tree
Ya, I'd agree with katanya... moving him from place to place may not be to his benefit. The temperature change would not be healthy.

By now, I'm sure that you see that this little guy is very friendly. They tend to recognize and want the company of people!

Smile

12-09-03, 10:54 PM
Oceangurl
My husband and step-daughter have gotten attached to him, so instead of living in my office, he lives in a big bowl in our family room. He does tend to enjoy it when we're all sitting near him watching tv Smile

12-13-03, 10:48 PM
Copernicus
Bettas have gills and a labyrinth organ, and do not have to surface to respire. The do so when the water quality is poor as in small containers. Male bettas in a filtered system usually only surface when it is time to build a nest to attract a female, which in fact very few 'regular' people ever have.

There are many myths involved with the ornate bettas sold in pet shops, mostly perpetuated for increased sales purposes.

12-13-03, 10:53 PM
Copernicus
Bettas have a labyrinth organ as well as gills and do not have to surface to breath if kept in a filtered system. Many myths are perpetuated about these fish for the purpose of promoting the sales of them. Keeping them in a small container is tantamount to keeping your child in the closet. They are much happier in a larger aquarium.

12-22-03, 11:03 PM
Tree
WOW Copernicus! Are you truly from Poland?

Welcome to the pool!

I think that we all agree with you about the size of the aquarium!

Are you seriously from Poland, because I, apparently, have some relatives there which I have never met!

Gold flippers?

01-19-04, 02:38 PM
Oceangurl
Well, this is an update on my Betta fish. His name is Mr. Limpett and we call him Limp. He appears to be very happy in his gallon sized bowl. He follows my finger around the bowl as I drag it outside the glass. My step daughter loves to feed him piece by piece. I often keep a large white candle lit next to the bowl and when it's lit, he hangs around the flickering light. Sometimes he races around his bowlnear the top of the water and splashes around. He's very cute and we all adore him. Smile

01-19-04, 07:28 PM
NCcichlid
Oceangurl, you beta will be fine over the weekend if s/he is unfed. I often leave town and my fish have gone up to a week with no food. A suggestion for your fish. Add one teaspoon of NON-iodized salt to the water. The salt will help reduce the chance of Mr. Limpett getting sick.

Too bad you did not buy a cichlid, you could have named him NC.

NC <><

01-19-04, 11:38 PM
Tree
Yes, Oceangurl, you get attached to them! I have a male and female betta in a 10 gallon tank (along with a couple of pictus catfish and a few tetras). They love it there!

When feeding the bettas, the male will try to eat the female's food..... so, at times, I have to move him over with my finger.. so she can have her fair share! They are soooo funny!

Smile

01-20-04, 12:02 AM
HillbillyGal
I'm real sorry if my opinion is out of line. I don't think any life should be used as decoration in an office. They belong in a home with good space for them to live. I really don't think any fish was intended by nature to live in a little bowl of water even if they can exist under those horrible conditions.

I love animals a lot. I'm real sorry if I can't give you an answer to your question that you want. Life is life. It doesn't have to be human. Just don't make it live in a way that it only keeps alive. Don't do it.

01-21-04, 12:18 PM
Oceangurl
Thank you for sharing your opinion Hillbillygal, but if you read the entire posting, you'd see that my fish has lived in my home with my family. He also appears quite active and happy in his big bowl in our family room.

Tree, you have your female and male betta together in the same bowl? I was wondering if I should get a bigger bowl, or perhaps upgrade to a small aquarium with a filtration system, and get a female betta? Naturally, we'd name her "Ladyfish" Wink Did you buy your fish together? He wouldn't attack a new female betta would he?

NC, if I ever do get more into the hobby of fish and get a Cichlid, you can be sure I'll name him NC! Big Grin

01-21-04, 08:39 PM
HillbillyGal
I'm real sorry if I sounded terrible Oceangurl. I didn't mean to at all. Upgrade, yes! There is nothing more relaxing than a nice aquarium. Sometimes you sure need it at work! It gives the fish a lot more room. It gives you a little more creativity with decorations.

A filter to keep the water clean for your fish is healthy for them and gives them a good living area. It doesn't have to take up too much space, just don't pile too many fish together because of food concerns and clean water. You sure can have a whole lot more fun and relaxation while giving the fish a good place to live with an aquarium with a good filter.

I think you will love the sound of water in your office. A reasonable aquarium is the ticket! It beats a fish in a bowl any day.

01-21-04, 08:51 PM
HillbillyGal
I'm sorry that I forgot to post this before. Sure, you can have as many female Betas as you want. Don't mix male Betas though. They will fight to the death in small areas. If you go for a small aquarium, I don't think you will find too many female Betas quite so attractive.

My advice, go to a pet store and take a look at some of the Tetras. There are many varities that don't need a whole lot of space. They wont get big. They get along well with anoyone, except fish that want to eat them. Betas wont do that.

01-21-04, 09:15 PM
Tree
Fish in my office?
Oceangurl, I got my male betta, then got the female later. They get along pretty well.

You should get lots of rocks, etc in your aquarium, so when "he" get in a fiesty mood, she can go and hide. I have several silk plants - they look good and they are helpful. As long as she has places to hide in, it should be fine.

Male and female bettas are just like us - some males and females get along - some don't! Wink

07-21-05, 11:07 AM
HEAT
If the fish is fed a tiny bit more on friday hell survive the weekend as long as it doesnt get to cold in your office

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,